Natural Mossie Repellants

[Clyde Alleyne]

I fully endorse Off! as an effective mozzie repellent. The mozzies in the Bon Accord area are notorious and I depend on Off! to protect myself if I'm out at dusk. The active ingredient is Deet, but be aware that Off! is just the brand name and there any a number of different formulations sold, each with a different concentration of Deet. In general, the lower the % of Deet, the more frequently it must be applied. Typically for children or people with sensitive skin, you use something with say 5%. For adults or when the mossies are in a really vicious mood, then something with 15% Deet or more will be more effective.
Clyde

[Julia C.]

If you do use Off or similar be careful of resting arms and legs on plastic chairs - I found it kinda makes the plastic sticky. It also melts nail polish - I made the mistake of spraying, including my feet, then going to bed and waking up to find the polish on my toe nails had decorated the sheet!

The times I got bitten were mostly the times I hadn't been applying something/anything regularly. Make it a part of your routine and if you can find combination stuff that helps, i.e. moisturiser/baby oil with citronel added and sun protection with mozzie guard. Also take some stuff out with you in the evenings, so you can re-apply as necessary. They little buggers love to get you when your legs are under a table and you're all relaxed and having fun.

It's really not that bad though, except at 3.00 am and you can HEAR one within your mosquito net but can't see it.

[David Watkins]

Julia C,thanks for the tip on nail polish,I'll be sure not to apply any
David(20d and 33mins 'til takeoff )

[Tony G]

Has anyone tried the electric plugin repellants? I see that they are sold in Boots and Tescos.

Tony


http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyandjanette

[David Watkins]

Tony,I bought one in Pennysavers a couple of years ago and use it at nights.It does seem to work.
David

[Tony G]

I think I'll get one then.

Tony

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Tony

Can I suggest you do as David suggests - buy one at Pennysavers (or Moorshead's Gourmet Foods or other source on Tobago). There are several reasons for suggesting this. If you're lucky, the ones you buy over here may be travel-friendly and have a two-pin plug, but they will be twice the price and you'll have problems and high expense once you use up the burner-tablets supplied with the unit. The GoodKnight and/or BugMat units you can buy everywhere in Tobago are cheap (£5), effective against local mosquitoes (no guarantee that one bought over here will be) and the burner tablets can be bought for cents at any local supermarket or general store. Frankly, its no contest. See my Insects article (menu: Odds & Sods/Health & Safety/Insects & Nasties) for suggestions of how to best use them.

[Carol Townsend]

David,
You shouldn't wear nail polish anyway- you're a chef!
I suppose "off - duty" is OK though

[Carol Townsend]

Ever wished you hadn't said something?

[Tony G]

I'm keeping out of the nail varnish thread.

Steve, thanks for that. I will put it on my Pennysavers list to buy on the way up to Castara from the airport.

Tony


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